Blood donors banned from SARS-hit areas

Australian health authorities have announced additional measures in an effort to prevent the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) across the country.

Blood donors who have recently travelled to SARS affected countries will not be able to give blood for 14 days after their return.

The Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer Dr Richard Smallwood says the measure is being introduced as a precaution.

"We've no direct evidence that there is a risk, but there is the possibility that their blood might contain the virus while they're incubating the disease," he said.

"We believe this is a prudent measure in Australia's continuing response to this disease."

He says blood regulator the Therapeutic Goods Administration had advised visitors to China, Hong Kong, Singapore, northern Vietnam or Toronto, in Canada, not to give blood for 14 days after their return, to ensure they were not incubating SARS.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has also advised people to try and avoid those destinations and to wear surgical face masks while transiting through them.

Seven possible SARS cases remain under investigation in Australia, but none have been confirmed.

A Tasmanian woman and Western Australian man have been released from hospital after receiving the all-clear today.

China has reported four more deaths and 74 new cases of the SARS virus.

The World Health Organisation says this takes China's death toll to 64 and the number of infected people to nearly 1,400.

Worldwide the disease has killed at least 137 people and infected more than 3,000.